NAWIC Chapter #302 – Kalamazoo/Battle Creek
The National Association of Women in Construction is a professional association of women actively employed in the construction industry. NAWIC was founded in 1953 by a group of women in Texas who desired to expand their knowledge and skills in their chosen fields. To date, NAWIC’s main goal is to enhance the success of women in the construction industry.
The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Chapter of NAWIC was founded August 27, 1983. There were originally 31 members representing women within the construction industry in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and South Haven. Mary Marie Stech of Wagner-Flook Builders served as our first President.
Over the years our chapter has sponsored seminars on Blue-Print Reading. We’ve held programs on building materials, viewed new products available, toured new construction projects in various stages of construction, discussed the best methods and procedures used in the operation of a successful business, learned about site safety and how to implement a safety program, received OSHA training and completed First Aide Training. We’ve studied the best marketing strategies for a company, and the list goes on.
We continue to support our community by funding raising for the YWCA, participating in Habitat for Humanity Projects, providing gifts and donations for the Veterans Hospital. We’ve assisted the Girl Scouts by having a blue print competitions, and we continue to sponsor a scholarship award to a student studying in the Construction Industry. To date, 23 students have benefited from the scholarship provided by our chapter.
One of the largest events we have held for the past seventeen years is our Block Kids Program. This is a building block competition put together to introduce the younger generation to the construction industry. We have 1st through 6th graders build a mega block project utilizing a 100 blocks and miscellaneous materials. The results have been amazing, the projects are judged and we are continuously surprised and inspired by the creativeness of the next generation.
Through the years NAWIC has provided women with networking opportunities to meet women in our industry. We are one of the few organizations that are made up of all of the trades within this industry. Our membership consists of Project Managers, Architects, Engineers, Trades People, Suppliers, Business Owners, Administrative Personnel, and Accountants.
We’ve learned and grown together as friends. Our chapter continues to meet the fourth Wednesday of each month at various locations experiencing great tours, speakers, and educational opportunities and our core pupose remains the same “To Enhance the Success of Women in the Construction Industry."
Please come join us and learn about NAWIC and how it will enhance your life.